Dentures having a dialkylpolysiloxane coating

ABSTRACT

Dentures are coated with a film, preferably 0.25 - 5.0 Mu , of a dialkylpolysiloxane of viscosity 300 - 100,000 centipoise at 25*C. The coating improves the retention of the denture in the mouth and minimizes food adhesion.

Mates Patent 1191 Lehei et all. [45] Jan, 22, 1974 DENTURES HAVING A3,369,297 2/1968 Haipern et al. 32/2 DIALKYLPOLYSILOXANE CQATING3,327,392 6/1967 Crow 32/2 3,423,831 i/l969 Semmelman 32/8 [75] I en s:Constantin Lebel, Pans; Pierre 3,681,122 8/1972 Domicone et a]. 117/161x Pruvost, Lyon, both of France 3,303,844 2/1967 Johnson et al 32/2 X3,621,079 l1/l971 Leeds ll7/l38.8 X [73] Asslgnee khone'pwlenc PansFrance 3,677,810 7/1972 Campbell et al... 117/161 x 22 Filed; O 14 1973,272,766 9/1966 Gowman 106/35 X [2]] Appl 189397 PrimaryExaminer-William D. Martin Assistant Examiner-Bernard D. Pianalto [30]Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney, Agent, or FirmStevens,Davis, Miller,

061. 15, 1970 France 70.37259 Mosher [52] U.S. Cl. ll7 /138.8 A, 32/3, ll7/l61 ZA 7 AB TRACT [51] Int. Cl. A61c 13/24 [5 1 58 Field Of Search32/2-8, DIG. 5; Dentures are coated wlth a film, preferably 117 33 A 1 1ZA 5.0 2, of a dialkylpolysiloxane of viscosity 300 100,000 centipoiseat 25C. The coating improves the [56] R f e Cited retention of thedenture in the mouth and minimizes UNITED STATES PATENTS adhesm-3,649,345 3/1972 Toiosa 32/2 5 Claims, No Drawings DENTURES HAVING ADIALKYLIPOLYSILOXANE COATING The present invention relates to thetreatment and care of dentures.

Various problems arise for the wearers of dentures such as grip in themouth, slipping, adhering food remnants, the need for frequent washingand brushing, and discomfort.

We have now found that silicone oils can be advantageously utilised inthe treatment and care of dentures.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a den? ture coated with afilm of silicone oil and a process for improving the characteristics ofa denture by coating it with a film of a silicone oil.

The use of silicone oils in numerous applications has been known for along time, especially in the treatment of various supports, where theirvalue resides in their non-stick and water-repellent properties.

We have found that the effect of increased slip, which could havebeenexpected, because of the lubricating capacity of silicone oils, was, infact, less marked than with an untreated denture, and was even nil insome cases. This unexpected phenomenon can be explained by the fact thatthe water-repellent character of the silicone oil allows the water, thesaliva and the air to escape between the treated support and the palate,thus producing a particularly large suction effect. Furthermore, thethin film of silicone compensates for the effect of anymicro-imperfections on the support part of the denture which faces thefinely striated surface of the palate. Accordingly, perfect matching ofthe denture to the jaw results.

A further advantageresulting from the use of the silicone oil is thatfoodstuffs and their remnants have a very considerably reduced tendencyto stick to the denture. This effect is seen during mastication and isvery appreciable, principally in the case of particularly thick andsticky foodstuffs such as caramel. The need for prolonged brushing orsteeping of the denture in cleansers virtually disappears and foodremnants are easily removed by simply holding the coated denture underwater.

A further advantage of the coated denture of the invention is comfort.Silicone, which is known to be accepted by live tissue without arejection or irritation acts like a thin layer of live matter.

The silicone oils which can be employed in the invention are generallydialkylpolysiloxane oils such as dimethylpolysiloxane oils, ofviscosity, at 25C, of 300 to [00,000 centipoises and preferably 5,000 tol5,000 centipoises. Their total lack of toxicity and their perfectneutrality avoid any inflamation or irritation of the mucous membranesor of the gums.

In order to carry out the invention successfully the silicone coatingshould be extremely thin; the thickness of the film of silicone oilsshould preferably be 0.25 to 5 microns and particularly 0.5 to 2microns.

The silicone oils can be applied to the dentures by any known means suchas a brush or paint-brush, or preferably by spraying from .an aerosolformulation. This latter technique makes it possible easily to deposit avery fine and perfectly distributed layer over the en tire surface ofthe denture.

The film of silicone oils lasts sufficiently well to remain for a periodof more than 1 day. In practice, the

silicone oil can be applied initially every 24 hours and 1 subsequentlyless frequently, as required.

The denture which may be coated in accordance with the presentinvention, will normally comprise a support plate carrying one or moreteeth, generally but not necessarily, artificial teeth. For bestresults, all the .surfaces of the denture should be coated with thesilicone oil.

We claim:

1. A denture having increased adherence to the mouth comprising asupport plate, a surface of said support plate, which contacts themouth, having a coating of a film consisting essentially of adialkylpolysiloxane oil of viscosity of 300 to 100,000 centipoises at25C.

2. A denture according to claim 1, wherein the silicone oil is adialkylpolysiloxane oil of viscosity of 5,000 to 15,000 centipoises at25C.

3. A denture according to claim 1 wherein the dialkylpolysiloxane is adimethylpolysiloxane.

4. A denture according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the film ofsilicone oil is 0.25 to 5 microns.

5. A denture according to claim 4 wherein the thickness of the film ofsilicone oil is 0.5 to 2 microns.

2. A denture according to claim 1, wherein the silicone oil is adialkylpolysiloxane oil of viscosity of 5,000 to 15,000 centipoises at25*C.
 3. A denture according to claim 1 wherein the dialkylpolysiloxaneis a dimethylpolysiloxane.
 4. A denture according to claim 1 wherein thethickness of the film of silicone oil is 0.25 to 5 microns.
 5. A dentureaccording to claim 4 wherein the thickness of the film of silicone oilis 0.5 to 2 microns.